This circular tsa tsa depicts the Bodhisattva Manjushri Namasangiti. In his right hand, he holds his »flaming sword of wisdom«, with which he symbolically severs the roots of ignorance. He sits cross-legged on a single-tiered lotus throne with only three lotus petals; his hair is tied up in three buns.
Manjushri Namasangiti is a profound and popular tantric form of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, widely found in Tibetan art and Vajrayana Buddhism. He is regarded as the embodiment of supreme knowledge and is closely associated with the tantric text of the same name, the Namasangiti Tantra.
The Namasangiti Tantra is considered one of the most important texts in Tantric Buddhism and is often referred to as the »King of Vajrayana Tantras.« It is a collection of praises describing various aspects of Manjushri’s wisdom.
Manjushri is surrounded by four mantras arranged in two concentric arcs [above] and three horizontal lines below. The Tibetan Uchen script was used for the characters of the mantras. However, the language is not Tibetan, but ancient Indian Sanskrit. It is unusual, though occasionally encountered, for a Sanskrit text to be written in Tibetan letters rather than the corresponding Sanskrit script [»Devanagari«].
Here is an example of the mantra in the inner concentric arc, meaning »purity« in transcribed Sanskrit:
»Om a ā aṃ a[ḥ] pra kra ti pa ri shud dha sa rba dha rma ya du ta sa rba ta thā ga tā ga (dza) nya na«
Translation: “Om - by nature perfectly pure, upheld by all Dharma principles, the essence of all Tathāgatas and their wisdom«
Tsa tsas, imbued with the energy of the Manjushri Namasangiti, give tangible form to wisdom and the enlightened mind. Placed within stupas or on altars, they serve to cultivate wisdom and dispel negative energies, while enabling the donor to accumulate merit and purify karma.
Condition report: The age of the votive tablet is evident. The outer edge, which was originally closed, is no longer fully preserved in the lower half; however, the Tsa Tsa imprint remains intact, with the exception of a very small area of damage on the right side. Despite slight wear across the entire surface, all the key details are still clearly visible. Only the slightly raised head of Manjushri on the imprint shows more significant signs of wear.
| Example in a Chinese Specialist Publication |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurements: | 2.8 x 2.7 x 0.8" | 7.0 x 6.8 x 2.0 cm |
| Material: | Fired Clay |
| Age: | 11th - 12th cent. |
| Price: | Make an offer |
| High resolution: | Display [1.0 MB, 2222 x 2222 px.] |
